Leer for annealing plate-glass.



'No. 7I7,I72. Patented Dec. 30, 1902. J. W. ('SRUIKSHANK.l

LEER FDR ANNEALING PLATE GLASS. (Applicatonlqd May 27, 1902.) (NoModel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

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J. W. GRUIKSHANK.

LEER FOR ANNEALING PLATE GLASS.

(Application led May 27, 1992.)

(No Modal.)

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rra Sterns ATENT OFFICE.

JAMES W. CRUIKSHANK, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

LEER FOR ANNEALING PLATE-GLASS.

bFECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 717,172, dated December30, 1902.

Application filed May 27, 1902. Serial No. 109,129. (No model.) l

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES YV. CRUIK- sHANK, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and StateofPen nsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLeers for Annealing Plate-Glass, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to that type of `annealing apparatus wherein theplates or sheets of glass are carried progressively through the leer bylongitudinally-reciprocating bars or rods which operate in conjunctionwith vertically-reciprocating bars or rods, the latter serving tosustain the glass clear of the carrying-bars during the backwardreciproca tions of the latter. The rods or bars are very long, and thetraveling bars are actuated entirelyfromoneend. Itisnecessarythatthesebars be quite strong to prevent buckling, yet of as light section aspossible to economize material and to reduce weight.

One object of this invention is to provide a bar or rod of improvedsection possessing maximum strength or stiffness.

A further object is to so construct these bars in connection with therollers upon which they travel that they are effectively held in properposition, also that the sections thereof may be coupled together withoutthe coupling members interfering with the rollers.

A further object is to provide improved mechanism for reciprocating thetraveling bars.

Still a further object of the invention is to improve the glass-liftingmechanism.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional plan view ofportions of a leer con-- structed in accordance with myimproveprovements, parts of the annealing-ovens being shown inconnection therewith. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, ofthe portions of the leer shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectionalview on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. et is a side elevation of portions ofthe rods or bars and their supporting and elevating mechanism. Fig. 5 isa cross-sectional View of a portion of the leer, showing the rods andtheir supporting mechanism in position. Figs. 6 and 7 are Views indetail of the mechanism for raising and lowering the lifting-bars. Figs.

8 vand '9 are similar views of oneof the traveling bars, together withits supporting-rollers.

Referring to the drawings, 2 represents annealing-ovens, and 3 theleeror tunnel. Within the leer and in the plane of oven-floor 2 are thecarrying-bars 4, resting on rollers 5 and connected at their outer endsto crosshead 6, actuated by power-cylinders 7 on 0pposite sides of theleer, whereby the rods are reciprocated longitudinally. The cross-headis mounted ou axles 8 and Wheels 9, the latter running on tracks 10.Secured to one of the axles are gear-wheels 11, which mesh with racks12, paralleling tracks 10, whereby the cross-head is maintained at rightangles to its lineof travel regardless of slight variations in theoperations of the power-cylinders. Bars or rods 4 are very long,extending from end to end of the leer, andbeing operated entirely fromone end they are liable to twist or buckle unless sufficiently strong towithstand thistendency. Oneoftheprimary objects of this invention is toprovide bars of minimum weight having'sufficient strength or lateralstiffness as to resist buckling. My preferred rod is of general T formin cross-section, having a deep body portion or web 13 and head 14, thelatter terminating in the central glass-supporting edge 15 and beneaththe latter extended laterally and forming the relatively wide flanges16, which support the baron the parallel rollers 5, with the I-sectionbody or web 13 suspended between and guided by the latter. To lightenthe bars Without detracting from their strength and to provide space forthe coupling-plates 18 within the vertical lines of the bars, the bodyor web 13 is channeled on opposite sides at 17, making said body portionof substantially I- section. Thus the bar-sections are united withoutthe coupling members interfering in any manner with the movement of thebars between the supporting-rollers. The lateral expanse of bar-head,including flanges 1(3,and the deep but relatively narrow/body or web 13of I-section afford the requisite lateral rigidity, and this, togetherwith the lateral bracing effected by the rollers, practically eliminatesall danger of buckling. The rollers 5 are arranged at suitable intervalson stands 19, provided with runways 20 for rollerspindles 5', therebyavoiding friction.

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Alternating with traveling rods 4 are lifting-bars 2l, preferably ofL-section, which are supported in the bifurcated arms or cams 22,secured to shafts 23, suitably journaled transverse the leer and at suchelevation as to normally sustain the upper edges of the bars slightlybelow the plane of supporting edges l5 of bars 4. Overhanging the lowerangles of bars 2l are projections 24 on the inner faces of the armor cambifurcations, whereby, saving slight play, the bars are confined withinthe arms and caused to rise and lowerpositivelytherewith. Atthesametimethe bars are unconined longitudinally, and hence free to expand and'contract without interference. `Shafts 23 project at one end through theleer and carry crank-arms 25, which are connected together by rod 26,the latter being operatively connected to powercylinder 27, positionedmidway the ends of the leer, whereby the shafts are oscillated forraising and lowering the lifting-bars. At the discharge end of the leercrank-arms 25 and connecting-rod 26 may be placed inside the leer toavoid power-cylinder 7, as shown in Figs. l and 2.

In operation, with the traveling rods 4 in inward position, as in Figs.l and 2, a plate or sheet of glass is moved onto the ends thereof fromthe oven 2, bridge-iingers 28, overlapping the rod ends, facilitatingthis operation. Rods 4 are then moved outward the full length of theirstroke, which positions the plate above the inner ends of lifting-rods2l. Then with bars 4 at rest shafts 23 are oscillated in the mannerabove described, causing arms 23 to raise bars 2l, which lift andsupport the glass clear of bars 4, when the latter are free for thebackward reciprocation to receive'a fresh plate. Bars 2l are thenpositively lowered, repositioning the glass in advanced position on bars4, and the latter are again given a forward reciprocation, the operationcontinuing as long as desired, so that when the leer is full eachreciprocation of the bars presents an annealed plate at the dischargeend of the leer for removal to the cutting-table or other place.

Reverting to bar 4, I believe myself to be the first to design a bar ofthe section shown which combines lightness and lateral rigidity for longlengths and provides for compact couplings. While this'bar is designedwith especial reference to leer use, I do not restrict myself thereto.

I claiml. Aglass-carrying bar of improved section consisting of a bodyportion of I-section, and a head wider than the body and projectinglaterally beyond the opposite side faces of the latter, said headterminating in a glasssupporting edge, substantially as described.

2. A glass-carrying bar consisting of a body portion of I-section, and ahead wider than the body and projecting laterally beyond the oppositeside faces of the latter, in combination with supports upon which thehead rests and between which the body portion depends, substantially asdescribed.

3. A glass-carryin g bar consisting of a body portion of I-section, anda head wider than the body and projecting laterally beyond the sidefaces of the latter, and coupling-plates entirely within the sidechannels of the barbody, in combination with parallel supports separatedto admit the bar-body and upon which the laterally-projecting headportions rest, substantially as described.

4. In glass-annealing leers, a glass-carrying bar consisting of abody`portion having longitudinally-channeled vertical faces, said bodyportion having a head projecting laterally from opposite sides thereof,couplingplates for the bars entirely within the channels thereof, andsupports between which the bar-body depends and against which the sidefaces thereof are adapted to bear, the laterally-projecting bar-headresting on said supports, substantially as described.

5. A glass-lifting bar for leers having a base-ilange, and a bar-liftingdevice bifurcated to embrace the bar, one arm of the bifurcation havingan inwardly-extending projection overhanging the bar-flange,substantially as described.

6. A glass-lifting bar L-shaped in cross-section, and avertically-moving lifting device bifurcated to embrace the bar, theinner face of one arm of the bifurcation being fiat complementary withthe flat or unflanged face of the bar, and the other arm provided on itsinner face with a projection overhanging the side iiange or projectionof the L-shaped bar, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES W. CRUIKSHANK.

Witnesses:

J. M. NEsBIT, ALEX. S. MABON.

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